EDMONTON—Alberta Liberal MLA Dr. David Swann said Canada’s decision on the proposal by China’s state-owned oil company to take over Calgary-based Nexen should be based on the principles of human rights.
Swann spoke at a rally at the Alberta legislature in Edmonton on Tuesday that aimed to raise awareness of the persecution of Falun Gong adherents in China and illegal organ harvesting from these prisoners of conscience while they are still alive.
Swann said he is shocked that the persecution, which began in 1999, continues today.
“All of us can barely believe it’s possible in the 21st century that this harvesting of organs against people’s will, incarceration, torture, death, is happening strictly on the choice of people’s faith and spiritual tradition,” Swann said.
In light of evidence that the Chinese National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) has participated and continues to participate in the persecution of Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa, in China, Swann said Canada now has an important decision to make as to whether it will allow CNOOC to gain control of assets in Alberta.
‘A global citizen issue’
“This is not a local issue, it’s not a provincial issue, it’s not a national issue—it’s a Canadian issue; it’s a global citizen issue,” Swann said.
“All of us have to play a part in raising our voices, saying we will not accept this, we cannot stand for this.”
The federal government is currently reviewing CNOOC’s proposed takeover of Nexen to determine if the deal will be of net benefit to Canada.
Swann, the former leader of the official opposition in Alberta, said human rights should come first in the review, adding that Canada’s decision on this issue will become part of the legacy that will be handed down “not only to our children … but also to the citizens of the world.”
“I stand firmly, and I know all Liberals in Canada do, all citizens of conscience in Canada, stand with the Falun Dafa against this atrocity,” he said.
The federal government’s mandatory 45-day review of the $15.1 billion takeover was set to finish earlier this month but the government extended it by a further 30 days.
CNOOC’s Participation in Persecution
The Epoch Times has learned of several cases of Falun Gong adherents being arrested by CNOOC’s security forces and in many cases forced into detention centres and brainwashing facilities.
Lucy Zhou, a spokesperson for the Falun Dafa Association of Canada, said Canada’s approval of the takeover should be contingent on a guarantee from the company that it will no longer fire, detain, or participate in the ongoing torture and imprisonment of Falun Gong adherents.
